A LEUKAEMIA charity has warned of the potential dangers of treating the disease only with alternative therapies after a Bury woman said she was cured by herbs.

Leukaemia Research said there was "no authenticated evidence" that herbal treatment of any type would cure leukaemia.

Samantha Wilson, of Grassington Drive, told the M.E.N how she was diagnosed with terminal cancer at the age of eight but is still alive at 35 after she was prescribed a range of herbal mixtures.

Her parents turned to herbalists Abbotts of Leigh after doctors told them that Samantha's chemotherapy was not working and she would die within three weeks. She was given the all clear at the age of 14.

Ken Campbell, clinical information officer at Leukaemia Research, said it would be "very dangerous" to take alternative treatments in the place of proven drugs. "We are delighted that Samantha is very healthy and doing so well," he said.

"But we are little bit concerned that the impression might be taken that there is proof that herbal treatments can cure leukaemia.

Maximum effects

"We know that Samantha received conventional treatment. For most patients, the maximum effects of drug treatments are reached a little while after they finish receiving it.

"The crucial point is that it is not unusual for someone to try an alternative treatment and credit whatever was last used with all the benefit gained."

Mr Campbell said the cure rate for Samantha's type of leukaemia was only 15 per cent when she was diagnosed but was now 50 per cent. "It has been achieved by well-designed clinical tests of new drugs," he said.

"There is no authenticated evidence that herbal treatment of any type can cure acute leukaemia.

"There are risks in using herbal treatment, even alongside standard drugs, because it has been shown that some preparations can interfere with the benefits of anti-cancer drugs.

"There is some evidence that complementary therapies may assist or help to control side effects of treatment but it would be very dangerous to give alternative treatment in place of proven drugs."